WEDGE ISSUES: Divisive threat to success [View all]

We are witnessing a growing
threat of divisive wedge issues
within the Democratic party.

This is both reassuring and unsettling.

Our reassurance is found in the FACT
that the opposition is putting more effort
into dividing us Democrats from one another
than in attacking our natural enemies,
the authoritarian right-wing.

Our disappointment is found in the reality
that the divisiveness is coming from within
the Democratic party "supporters".

The traditional wedge issues have been;
Gun rights, religion, LGBT, and women's rights...
aka. guns, G~D, gays and girls, the 4G's.

And, traditionally, these have been employed
by right-wingers and 3rd-Wayers against
"The Left".

Today we are seeing the 4G's used by
those who have been natural allies.

We need to recognize and disrupt the
propagation of these wedges to prevent
further malignancy within the party.

To that end, we need to change the "frame"
to capture the "narrative".

The 3rd-Way strategy is to cleave a divide
between social and economic concerns.
ie, socially progressive and economically conservative.
In reality, there is ZERO daylight between the two.

In our culture, money is power and control.
Without power, there is no social justice.

The 3rd-Way mantra of social justice before
economic justice is little more than a wedge
designed to divide the most vulnerable Democrats
from their natural allies... DIVIDE AND CONQUER.

BEWARE of the "trap".
A wedge issue or meme ONLY has power when
it is repeated or becomes part of the collective conscience.

Each time we refute or defend the false premise,
such as the separation between social and economic justice,
we are REINFORCING the frame trap set by the opposition.

The only exit is re-framing or introducing a new frame.


We need to begin putting forth NEW frames
and avoid reinforcing or furthering the frames
and narratives of those who seek to divide
and conquer our hopes, our dreams of a healthy,
safe and united world.